BRICS Network University Conference

5 – 7 July 2018

BRICS Network University Conference Programme

WEDNESDAY, 4 JULY 2018

All Day

Arrival in Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa

All delegates are to arrive by the evening of 4 July and are encouraged to take accommodation at Spier Hotel outside Stellenbosch. A shuttle service to and from the airport as well as the conference venue is available only for delegates staying at this hotel, and the organisers have arranged with the hotel for block-booking at favourable rates. However, conference-goers are to contact the hotel directly to confirm and pay for their accommodation themselves. Delegates who require ground transportation are encouraged to share their flight itinerary with the main conference organiser to allow for smooth shuttle arrangements from and to Cape Town International Airport.

DAY 1THURSDAY, 5 JULY 2018Van der Sterr Building, Stellenbosch University Main Campus

08:00

Collection

All delegates who stay at Spier Hotel will be transported to the conference venue by shuttle bus, departing from the hotel at 08:00.

All delegates staying at Spier Hotel

08:30 – 09:00

ARRIVAL

Delegates arrive at the conference venue for registration and welcoming tea or coffee.

All delegates

SESSION 1: OPENING PLENARYSession chair: Prof Cheryl de la Rey

09:00 – 09:10

Opening Remarks

The chair will open the conference officially and set out the objectives and expectations of BRICS UN 2018. She will also provide practical information, explain the conference programme and manage the time allocation per speaker. Then, the chair will introduce the speakers at this session and acknowledge the most high-level delegates present. The opening remarks are meant to give you a sense of whom you will be spending the next three days with, and what you are setting out to achieve.

Prof Cheryl de la Rey, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Pretoria (South Africa), and member of the NCC, South Africa

OR

Prof Ahmed Bawa, Chief Executive Officer of Universities South Africa (USAf), and member of the NCC, South Africa

09:10 – 09:20

Welcoming Remarks

The VC should, on behalf of Spier Hotel (tbc) and the University of Stellenbosch welcome participants to his University. He should elaborate on the history of the University. He should also indicate the importance of BRICS and BRICS NU to the University and the contribution that his University has made so far in advancing the BRICS academic and Research Agenda. The VC’s talk will give the audience an idea of WHERE they are physically located in South Africa and the importance of the University within BRICS partnership.

Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University (South Africa)

09:20 – 09:40

Contextualising the BRICS NU

Dr Parker’s is intended to sketch in the background and context of the conference. She will set out the need for BRICS NU and outline its achievements to date. She will also speak about the theme for the 2018 conference – “Unlocking BRICS Universities Partnerships: Opportunities and Challenges” – and its expected outcomes, and how this reflect BRICS NU’s six thematic areas. There remarks are meant to provide you with a clear understanding of the purpose of this conference.

This panel session includes presentations by all five BRICS member states, highlighting each country’s vision and strategy regarding BRICS NU. The specific BRICS NU International Governing Board (IGB) for each of the five member states will do its presentation.

This address will set the tone and summarise the core message or most important aspect of BRICS as an association. Prof Sitas will aim to inspire you for conversations about and within BRICS by highlighting the possibilities and opportunities that the BRICS platform presents to higher education in member states.

Prof Ari Sitas, Chair of South African BRICS Think Tank (SABTT)

12:10 – 12:30

Planning of the next session

The SA NCC will outline how the break-away parallel sessions are to be conducted. The parallel sessions will be introduced, as well as the chair and rapporteur for each session. Then, participants will be divided into six groups that are aligned to BRICS NU’s International Thematic Groups (ITGs). The group chairs will be provided with a brief of what is expected of the group work, and with prompt questions to facilitate discussions within groups. You will also receive practical information about the break-away rooms that have been prepared.

National Conference Coordinator, South Africa

12:30 – 13:30

LUNCH BREAK

SESSION 3: BREAK-OUT – PARALLEL SESSIONSITG chairs

13:30 – 15:30

Break-out parallel sessions according to the six ITGs:

Group 1: Energy (room number tbc)
Group 2: Computer Science and Information Security (room number tbc)
Group 3: Ecology and Climate Change (room number tbc)
Group 4: Water Resources and Pollution Treatment (room number tbc)
Group 5: BRICS Studies (room number tbc)
Group 6: Economics (room number tbc)

Dr Mabizela will provide an overview of the conference and reflect on the work that has been done since Day 1. He will summarise the main findings and challenges of BRICS UN 2018 and link these to the network’s overall objectives. The question is to be settled: Did this conference achieve its key objectives as set out at the beginning? Furthermore, this reflection will touch on the report-backs from the break-out parallel sessions and link them with the country visions and strategies presented by the IGB.

The leader of each delegation will be allowed no more than five minutes to share their own impressions with the rest. This offers other BRICS countries (besides South Africa) an opportunity to reflect on the overall organisation and deliverables of the conference.

This session will consider questions like the following: When will the report of the 2018 conference be finalised and shared with participants? What would be done with the report? When is the next BRICS NU conference planned for, and who will be the host country? Mr Manamela will also address a note of thanks to all other BRICS countries and the organisers, keynote speakers, other speakers, facilitators and all participants.

This session will consider questions like the following: When will the report of the 2018 conference be finalised and shared with participants? What would be done with the report? When is the next BRICS NU conference planned for, and who will be the host country? Dr Parker will also address a note of thanks to all other BRICS countries and the organisers, keynote speakers, other speakers, facilitators and all participants.

Excursions will be conducted for those who are interested. This session is to discuss the arrangements (e.g. time of departure and return, some information about the historical places that are to be visited, and whether lunch will be provided or not). At the session, an outline will also be given of the study visits to selected higher education institutions, for those interested (e.g. time of departure and return, the universities that are to be visited, the programme that has been prepared at each university, and whether lunch will be provided or not).

National Coordinator of the Conference, South Africa

15:35 – 15:40

Welcome remarks to the 2019 BRICS NU Conference by the next chair

Leader of the Brazilian delegation

16:00 – 17:30

Coffee and Tea Break

16:00 – 17:30

Afternoon at leisure

All participants

16:00 – 17:00

CLOSED MEETING: BRICS NU IGB

Only members of the BRICS Network University International Governing Board